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Spleen removal - Risks

Alternative Names

Splenectomy; Laparoscopic splenectomy; Spleen removal - laparoscopic

Risks:

Risks for any surgery are:

The risks or problems that may occur during or soon after this surgery are:

  • Blood clot in the portal vein (an important vein that carries blood to the liver)
  • Collapsed lung
  • Hernia at the surgical cut site
  • Increased risk for infection after splenectomy (post-splenectomy sepsis or other infections -- children are at higher risk than adults for infection)
  • Injury to nearby organs, such as the pancreas, stomach, and colon
  • Pus collection under the diaphragm (subdiaphragmatic abscess)

Risks are the same for both open and laparoscopic spleen removal.

  • Reviewed last on: 1/24/2011
  • Shabir Bhimji, MD, PhD, Specializing in General Surgery, Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery, Midland, TX. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

References

Beauchamp RD, Holzman MD, Fabian TC, Weinberg JA. The spleen. In: Townsend CM, Beauchamp RD, Evers BM, Mattox KL, eds. Sabiston Textbook of Surgery. 18th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2008:chap 56.

Camitta BM. Hyposplenism, splenic trauma, and splenectomy. In: Kliegman RM, Behrman RE, Jenson HB, Stanton BF, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 18th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007:chap 487.

Cadili A, de Gara C. Complications of splenectomy. Am J Med. 2008;121(5):371-375.

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